Cleaning facility

ABSTRACT

A simple, compact and relatively inexpensive, but effective, toilet bowl cleaning facility is provided which consists of two parts: (1) a flexible sheet adapted to be fitted into a bowl such as a toilet bowl and to serve as a dam, but having a central hole through it, and (2) a hollow tubular member open at both ends adapted to be fitted snugly in the central hole of the dam member and to extend well above it but to terminate within the toilet bowl for accumulating water and disinfectant above the dam member up to a definite level, and discharging any surplus through the tubular member. The detached dam member can be rolled and fitted snugly into the tubular member for storage.

United States Patent [191,-

Ziegelmeyer et al.

[4 1 Oct. 8, 1974 CLEANING FACILITY Dr., Rancho 'Cordova, Calif. 95670 [22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 328,092

[52] US. Cl 4/1, 4/295, 134/24 [51] Int. Cl A47k 17/00 [58] Field of Search 4/l, 286, 295, 190, 187 R; 134/8, 24, 167

3,480,021 ll/l969 Ewald, Jr. 4/286 X Primary Examiner llenry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence M. Crews [5 7] ABSTRACT A simple, compact and relatively inexpensive, but effective, toilet bowl cleaning facility is provided which consists of two parts: (1) a flexible sheet adapted to be fitted into a bowl such as a toilet bowl and to serve as a dam, but having a central hole through it, and (2) a hollow tubular member open at both ends adapted to be fitted snugly in the central hole of the dam member and to extend well above it but to terminate within the toilet bowl for accumulating water and disinfectant above the dam member up to a definite level, and discharging any surplus through the tubular member. The detached dam member can be rolled and fitted snugly into the tubular member for storage.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CLEANING FACILITY This invention relates to a simple. compact, inexpensive, but effective cleaning facility which may be applied to a variety of services, such as the cleaning of av toilet bowl.

Conventional toilet bowls are formed with a trap through which the residual water in the bowl is maintained at a desired, normal level. The bowl demands cleaning at frequent intervals, especially because an unsightly ring tends to accumulate on the bowl surface at the normal water level, and other surface soiling occurs above that level.

It is desirable that the unpleasant task of cleaning the bowl be accomplished with a minimum of l soiling of the hands, (2) exposure to unpleasant odors, and (3) effort.

To these ends we have contrived a simple, compact and inexpensive dam and level limiting combination which can be readily placed in the bowl to provide for a definitely maintained, raised water level during chemical and mechanical cleaning, but which positively guards against overflowing.

The combination desirably comprises a flexible, damforming sheet which is submerged in the bowl below the normal water level, and a tubular, upstanding member which can be, and is, snugly fitted through a central opening of the darn member and put into the bowl along with the applied dam member.

It is a feature that the tube is beveled at its upper end, so that the higher beveled portion remains clean and substantially dry, and may advantageously serve as a clean grippable portion for withdrawing the assembly from the bowl after the job is finished.

It is a further feature that the dam. member can be rolled and inserted snugly in the tube for storing so that the parts can be compactly and conveniently stored, and will always be found together asan unitary item.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an illustrative, practical and advantageous combined tube and dam assembly, in condition for storing;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same members operatively associated and installed in a toilet bowl; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the assembly installed in the bowl and indicating both the normal water level and the raised water level as determined by the installed assembly.

The illustrative assembly comprises a firm tubular member 12 which may be composed of hard rubber or any other suitable material. It should be definitely nondeformablc, and it should be incapable of being damaged by cxposure to water. At its upper end the member 12 is beveled so that when it stands upright in water, the water level will be limited and maintained by the lowest point of the beveled mouth, and the higher portions of the mouth will remain relatively dry and clean. Near its lower end the member 12 is formed with spaced, parallel, circumferential channels, or grooves 13 at intervals, say, of one-half inch.

As seen in FIG. 1, the sleeve or tube 12 contains snugly a rolled up, flexible dam member 14. The dam member 14, which may be formed of flexible rubber, has a central circular opening whose normal diameter substantially coincides with the common external diameter of the grooved portions of the tubular member 12. The member 14 is sufficiently elastic to be stretched around the ungrooved portions of the tubular member 12, and then to contract to fit snugly in any selected groove.

The groove selected for receiving and retaining the member 14 is optional with the user so that the length of the upwardly extending tube portion can be established in accordance with the depth of the bowl and water level desired.

The conventional bowl 16, as shown clearly in FIG. 3, discharges through a trap 18, the highest point 20 of which determines the normal water level in the bowl, indicated at 22. It is at this level that the most objectionable accumulation of soil may develop as a ring on the bowl surface.

The members 12 and 14, assembled as shown in FIG. 3, are placed in the bowl with the member 14 submerged below the normal water level 22. While the user initially presses the member 12 down, he flushes the toilet, causing water to be accumulated above the dam member 14 up to the lowest point of the beveled mouth of the tubular member 12, indicated at 23. Any surplus water simply passes into and down the member 12, being discharged into the trap. The member 12 has sufficient flow capacity to assure that the toilet will not overflow, even if it is unnecessarily flushed through accident, inadvertence or ignorance.

Detergent or other cleaning material is deposited in the retained water, and the toilet may be left to soak substantially clean for as long as may be useful (generally for ten to thirty minutes, or, if circumstances warrant, for a much longer period).

The toilet is then flushed again, one or more times, to carry away the chemical and the polluting material, so that the novel assembly will be left clean enough to handle without revulsion.

If the first treatment is regarded as inadequate it can be supplemented with mop or brush scrubbing, and/or the entire procedure may be repeated.

The assembly is then withdrawn from the bowl, leaving the water free to seek its normal level. When the parts have naturally dried sufficiently, or have been dried, the member 14 is rolled and inserted in the member 12, as shown in FIG. 1, and the parts thus associated are put away.

While the assembly has been described and shown as used in a conventional toilet bowl, it is equally available for use in the urinals found in public toilets-The member 12 may be varied in length, and two or more of the tubular members may be sold along with the darn member. The assembly can also be used for other services than toilet bowl cleaning. In some manufacturing operations it is desirable to maintain a bath of constantly flowing water at a uniform level, a service for which the described assembly is well adapted.

We have described what we believe to be the best embodiments of our invention. What we desire to secure by letters patent is set forth in the appended claims.

' We claim:

1. A bowl cleaning facility consisting, in combination, of

a. a flexible and elastic, dam-forming sheet member having a central opening and otherwise adapted for closing the outlet of a toilet bowl, and

b. a firm, upstanding tubular member open at bot ends and short enough to be contained in a covered toilet bowl and adapted to be removably snugly fitted and secured. in said central opening of the damforming sheet for raising the level of retained water in the bowl when water is added.

2. A bowl cleaning facility as set forth in claim 1 in which the tubular member is formed exteriorly at its lower end with a series of spaced, circumferential grooves, and the dam member is so dimensioned and is sufficiently elastic to be stretched about the ungrooved portion of the tubular member and then allowed to contract to a snug and dependable fit in any selected groove.

3. A bowl cleaning facility as set forth in claim 1 in which the upper end of the tubular member is beveled to form a beveled mouth, so that the raised water level in the bowl will substantially coincide with the lowest for storage. 

1. A bowl cleaning facility consisting, in combination, of a. a flexible and elastic, dam-forming sheet member having a central opening and otherwise adapted for closing the outlet of a toilet bowl, and b. a firm, upstanding tubular member open at both ends and short enough to be contained in a covered toilet bowl and adapted to be removably snugly fitted and secured in said central opening of the dam-forming sheet for raising the level of retained water in the bowl when water is added.
 2. A bowl cleAning facility as set forth in claim 1 in which the tubular member is formed exteriorly at its lower end with a series of spaced, circumferential grooves, and the dam member is so dimensioned and is sufficiently elastic to be stretched about the ungrooved portion of the tubular member and then allowed to contract to a snug and dependable fit in any selected groove.
 3. A bowl cleaning facility as set forth in claim 1 in which the upper end of the tubular member is beveled to form a beveled mouth, so that the raised water level in the bowl will substantially coincide with the lowest point of the beveled end, and the remainder of the mouth will stand above such water level.
 4. A bowl cleaning facility as set forth in claim 1 in which the dam-forming sheet member is sufficiently flexible, and is of small enough size to be rolled into compact form and lodged snugly in the tubular member for storage. 